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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 15th, 2024–Jan 18th, 2024

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Waterton Lakes, Waterton.

Reactive wind slabs may exist on all aspects, especially in steep alpine features. A touchy persistent slab problem also exists below treeline in steep, sheltered areas. Lots of hidden hazards still exist below treeline.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A few natural windslabs to size 2 were observed up the Akamina Parkway in steep and sheltered lee features this week. Two size 2 persistent slab avalanches were triggered remotely by the field team last Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

A combination of windslab and old storm snow overlies facets and melt-freeze crust. A thicker (5cm) layer of facets exists in more sheltered areas below treeline. In windy areas in the alpine and treeline windslab and settled snow may sit directly on the crust with little or no facets. This overlies a melt freeze crust complex and a generally more stable base of the snowpack. Areas close to the divide have the best snow coverage.

Weather Summary

Tues

Overcast with trace snow throughout the day. Wind NW 30 increasing to SW and 50. Alpine High -7

Wed

Cloudy with 5-10 cm of snow through the day and 10-15 through the night. Wind W 50 becoming 30. Alpine High -12

Thurs

Skies clearing. Light to moderate E wind. Alpine High -15

For more info see: Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.